After playing with Alex Smith in San Francisco, Cardinals guard Adam Snyder wouldn't mind playing with Smith again.

The Cardinals desperately need a quarterback, and Snyder would like to see them pursue Smith if he became available. Despite playing the best football of his career this season, Smith lost his starting job to Colin Kaepernick.

Alex Smith lost his starting job with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this season. (AP Photo)

"If someone asked me about him, I’d tell them exactly what I thought," Snyder said via the Sacramento Bee. "I think the guy’s got unbelievable character, and I think he’s a leader. Obviously, he and I came in together (in 2005). So I’ve got a special place for him.

"He was 19-5 (in the past two seasons) and had the best QB rating in the league and was doing his job to win games, you know? It was surprising to me. But, hey, they get paid to make those decisions, and that’s the decision they went with."

The Cardinals are certain to pursue quarterbacks during the offseason, and Smith is expected to want out of San Francisco. Snyder wouldn’t mind if Smith remained in the NFC West with the Cardinals.